The Forum on Workplace Inclusion Podcast

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Jennifer Brown (Jennifer Brown Consulting), Sean Coleman (Destination Tomorrow), and Ray Arata (Better Man Conference) examine the complexities of marginalization, intersectionality, masculinity, and power, through the lens of allyship. We can expand our potential for connection and belonging despite the stress of uncertainty and inequity, by listening to and...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Kathy Kacher (Career/Life Alliance Services; The SMART Workplace), Latoya Burrell (Anderson Foundation), and Anu Mandapati (Talking Talent, Inc.) explore ways your organization can "up-skill" its managers to create excellent team cultures regardless of where managers and the team are working from. Developing managers has been challenging organizations for deca...

In this special bonus episode of The Forum Podcast, Megan Hughes Johnson (Interfaith Youth Core) and Jenan Mohajir ( Interfaith Youth Core)  answer questions from listeners that attended May 6, 2021 Diversity Insights Presentation webinar Religion in the Workplace: Interfaith Skills to Engage Difference . Megan and Jenan answer questions from our listening audience around these talking points...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Adrienne Kimball (Rubicon Programs, Inc.) and Karen Cohen (Rubicon Programs, Inc.) share Rubicon's own journey to becoming a social justice organization as well as other helpful resources and insights for others to utilize. As an affirmative action employer, Rubicon has been tracking diversity goals for years. In 2014, Rubicon crystallized its identity as a so...

In this special bonus episode of The Forum Podcast, Dr. Daniel Cantor Yalowitz (DCY Consulting) and Tatyana Fertelmeyster (Connecting Differences, LLC) answer questions from listeners that attended our very popular April 2021 webinar From Bystander to Ally . Daniel  and Tatyana  answer questions from our listening audience around these talking points: Is “active bystander” the same as “a...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Rehana Lerandeau , (Human Impact Partners) explores fair chance hiring and the challenges, barriers and bias formerly incarcerated people face when seeking employment. A growing number of companies have put diversity initiatives into practice, especially when it comes to hiring. But people who have been incarcerated are still significantly overlooked. One way...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast,  Patricia Jesperson , (EmployeeEXP) dives into what she feels is missing from the workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion conversation: Succession Planning. If you subscribe to Ms. Verna Myers quote, "Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance," missing for me from many inclusive organization conversations are the econom...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Rebekah Steele (Rebekah Steele | Diversity Breakthroughs) and Alison Maitland (author, speaker, coach) discuss the "INdivisible approach" as a way to radically rethink "feel good" inclusion initiatives. Global disruptions unveil the limits of isolated “feel good” inclusion initiatives that fall short of driving the systemic transformation needed for all to thr...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Miloney Thakrar (Mind the Gender Gap, Inc.) interviews Dhavide Aruliah (OpenTeams, Inc.) to unpack what it means to be an ally for gender equity in the workplace. In 2018, Dhavide Aruliah began working at a high-growth startup. Within a month of working there, he learns that a former employee was sexually harassed by the company's CEO. After expressing his dis...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Adriana Ponce-Matteccui (Rubicon Programs) provides an introduction into the concepts of othering and belonging and practical ways to start introducing belonging into your organization or workplace. Belonging is a fundamental need for human beings. The feeling that you don’t belong can be as stressful as physical pain. When you add elevated fears about health...

In this special bonus episode of The Forum Podcast, Maureen Berkner Boyt (The Moxie Exchange) answer questions from listeners that attended our webinar Seizing the Moment to Create a New, More Inclusive Normal . Maureen answers questions from our listening audience around these talking points: The "perfect storm" and advice to companies who did not have DEI as a priority prior to it (the "perfect...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Dr. Karrin Glover (Albert Einstein School of Medicine) shares insights into the mental and physical impacts of structural racism, racial trauma, and bias on young employees of color. Today’s pandemic, economic crisis, and national racial reckoning have only exacerbated challenges and produced additional risk factors that can jeopardize young people of color in...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Kirsten Davenport and Darius Norwood of Norwood & Co. explores the often overlook conversation about getting and retaining minority talent. Millennials have become the largest generation in America's workforce. And, by 2030, they will hold more than 75% of the workforce. As everyone is in pursuit of talent, there is a different fight for minority talent. D...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Carole Burton (Radiance Resources) explores the direct connection between how your people feel, engage, and perform and the growth of an organization. You might lift an eyebrow when you hear the concept of "equity" related to the bottom line. Does creating an inclusive workplace impact your company's return on investment and brand footprint? Yes. Now more than...

In this special bonus episode of The Forum Podcast, Dr. Christopher Sansone  (Verticle Leadership), Maria Velasco, MA  (Beyond Inclusion Group) answer questions from listeners that attended our webinar Harnessing the Power of Resistance: Transformative Leadership Strategies , sponsored by  AON . For additional context and insight into this topic and conversation, watch the replay of...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Jennifer Brown (Jennifer Brown Consulting) and Dominic Longo (Flourishing Gays) make the case for identity-based leadership development for LGBTQ+ professionals. Organizations often hesitate to create single-identity learning & development programs. Women’s leadership development has been the main exception, leaving out LGBTQ+ folx, POCs, and others as les...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Pam McElvane (Diversity MBA) offers how to create an effective DEI strategy that resonates with workers and why it still matters. In the wake of ongoing racial unrest across the U.S., companies are called to evaluate what DEI looks like in their workplaces. However, creating a new strategy to prioritize DEI is no small feat, and it can be even more of a challe...

In this special bonus episode of The Forum Podcast, Leslie Funk and Cameron Smith , (Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding) answer questions from listeners that attended our popular webinar The December Dilemma: Religion, Resilience, and Mental Health During the Holiday Season , sponsored by  AON . Leslie Funk and Cameron Smith answer questions from our listening audience around t...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Dr. Brian Grim , Kent Johnson , and Paul Lambert of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation offer best practices to build successful & diverse religiously inclusive workplaces. Companies are increasingly intrigued or concerned about the growing emphasis on religious diversity at work. Increasingly, company leaders are realizing that, for many emplo...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Howard Ross (Urdarta Consulting) explores the role of "belonging" in the workplace and organizational culture. What is “Belonging”? As we have moved from diversity to inclusion, we still mostly have created environments in which historically marginalized people are adapting to organizations whose cultures are driven by the dominant group. The challenge is, wha...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Luiza Dreasher (Mastering Cultural Difference) offers practical concepts and strategies to keep in mind when communicating across differences. Nowadays, organizations are actively seeking to diversify their workforce, not only because of the impact of demographic changes but also because of the proven benefits diversity brings. Unfortunately, as our workplaces...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Ashley Oolman  (Lifeworks) will lead listeners through a discussion about how disability status may not be as protected as other classes in the workplace. Though there are laws dating back to 1938 ensuring access to resources, employment, and equal rights, people with disabilities experience discrimination in overt and profound ways especially when contra...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Farzana Nayani (Farzana Nayani, Consulting and Training) offers options on learn how to interact with children about diversity at home, at school and in the community. Are you a part of a parenting-focused ERG looking for the way to create programming around challenging topics such as race, culture and intersectionality, and don’t know how to address this—espe...

In this episode of The Forum Podcast, Angela Cooper (Mutual of Omaha) offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on insights and methods for leading a cultural change initiative in any environment. Influencing the future is a big job. Are you up to it? As DEI practitioners, we must approach change leadership with a strategic mind, a psychological lens, an empathetic core, and a concrete plan. There is...

In this The Forum Podcast, Dr. Kristine F. Hoover (Gonzaga University) addresses the gap in knowledge for well intended people who may struggle with language and skills to "do the work" and to engage in dialogue with diverse others. Listeners  will be invited to reflect on topics including other-ing and ally-ship through dialogic organization development processes. There is no "quick fix" for...